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STATUTES  RELATING  TO  FLORIDA. 


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STATUTES  RELATING  TO  FLORIDA, 


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IN  THE  DIOCESAN  SYNOD,  HELD  BY  HIS  MAJESTY'S  COM- 
MAND, BY'  THE  RIGHT  REV.  DR.  JOHN  GARCIA  DE 
PALACIOS,  BISHOP  OF  CUBA,  IN  JUNE,  1684, 

After  many  instructions  a  Synod  of  the  Diocese  of  Santi- 
ago de  Cuba,  then  embracing  Cuba,  Jamaica,  and  Florida, 
was  convened  at  Havana  by  Rt.  Rev.  Dr.  John  Garcia  de 
Palacios.  It  met  on  Sunday,  June  2,  1684,  and  Statutes  were 
promulgated  on  Whitsunday,  June  9th,  and  were  formally 
signed  on  the  following  Sunday. 

These  Statutes  have  been  adopted  by  subsequent  Bishops 
of  that  diocese,  as  well  as  those  of  the  diocese  of  St.  Christo- 
pher of  Havana,  formed  from  it,  and  remain  in  force  to  this 
day.  They  were  in  force  also  in  Florida  till  1793,  when  the 
diocese  of  Louisiana  and  the  Floridas  was  erected. 

One  title  applied  exclusively  to  Florida,  and  relates  entirely 
to  the  Indian  missions.  It  is  now  given  as  a  cunous  part  of 
the  ecclesiastical  law  prevailing  here. 

Title  Fifth. 

tor  the  provinces  of  Florida  and  the  newly  converted 

Indians. 

CONSTITUTION   I. 

That  the  Constitutions  of  this  Holy  Synod  be  observed  and  fulfilled 

in  the  parishes  of  Florida. 

The  care  of  correcting  the  sins  of  the  inhabitants  of  this 
island  is  no  less  a  part  of  our  pastoral  charge  than  the  obliga- 
tion imposed  on  us  of  seeking  it  in  the  inhabitants  and  re- 
cently converted  Indians  of  the  provinces  of  Florida,  inasmuch 
as  they  are  commended  to  us  by  the  Apostolic  See  and  the 
piety  of  our  Catholic  King  and  Lord,  and  belong  to  this  dio- 


ivi24:W^8,'i 


cese:  Wherefore,  the  Holy  Synod  approving,  we  command 
all  beneficed  parish  priests,  and  priests  in  charge  of  Indian 
missions,  and  other  faithful  Catholics  of  said  provinces,  that 
each  one,  so  far  as  concerns  him,  do  observe  and  fulfil  the 
constitutions  of  this  holy  Synod,  as  and  according  to  what  is 
expressed  therein,  under  the  pains  and  censures  contained  in 
them. 

CONSTITUTION    II. 

That  the  Indians  of  the  provinces  of  Florida  must  not  play  ban. 

By  the  information  which  we  have  received  from  mission- 
aries zealous  for  the  service  of  God,  and  from  Catholic  per- 
sons anxious  for  the  good  of  souls  among  the  Indians  of  the 
Florida  provinces,  we  have  understood  how  superstitious  and 
prejudicial  to  the  spiritual  and  temporal  well-being  of  the  re- 
centlv-converted  Indians  of  Florida  the  diabolical  game  which 
they  have  played,  and  still  play,  with  ball,  is,  in  consequence 
of  the  abuses,  superstitions,  divinations,  and  abominations 
which  result  from  it :  Wherefore,  this  Holy  Synod  desiring 
to  apply  some  remedy  to  obviate  them,  we  command  all 
priests  in  charge  of  missions  in  said  provinces  that  they  must,, 
under  no  pretext,  give  consent  to  said  Indians  to  play  similar 
games  ;  and  we  command  other  faithful  Christians  not  to  con- 
sent or  aid  them  therein,  under  penalty  of  being  chastised  as 
co-operators  and  counsellors  of  superstition.  And  we  beg 
and  charge  the  Governors  of  said  provinces,  and  other  secular 
judges,  not  to  give  permission  to  the  Indians  to  play  said 
games,  charging  their  consciences  therewith,  that  in  this  mat- 
ter they  will  be  bound  and  held  to  render  an  account  to  God 
our  Lord  of  all  the  sins,  superstitions,  and  abominations  which 
shall  result  from  said  games,  if,  by  their  consent  and  neglect, 
they  are  not  prevented.  And  we  forbid  the  Indians  to  play- 
said  game  of  ball,  under  any  pretext  of  festival  or  amuse- 
ment, under  pain  of  being  chastised  by  us  and  our  successors 
and  visitors ;  and  we  require  and  warn  them,  now  that  God 
our  Lord,  by  His  infinite  goodness  and   mercy,  has  brought 


them  to  the  bosom  of  the  Church,  to  keep  the  Catholic  faith 
ill  all  piiritv,  and  offer  worship  to  the  true  God  Almighty, 
onr  Creator  and  Redeemer,  and  not  to  the  devil,  covertly  and 
implicitly,  as  is  done  in  superstitions  games  and  amusements. 

CONSTITUTION    HI. 

ThatJIndians,  married^nien,  of  the  missions  in  Florida,  must  not 
be  kept  in  the  city  of  St.  Augustine  or  elsewhere,  away  from 
their  wives.* 

It  is  right  that  married  persons  cohabit  in  matrimony  and 
live  married  life  ;  and  it  is  our  pastoral  office  to  oblige  and 
compel  them  to  do  so ;  and  as  we  are  informed  that  many 
Spaniards,  negroes,  and  mulattoes  residing  in  St.  Augustine, 
Florida,  and  other  missions,  with  little  fear  of  God  and  with 
grievous  injury  to  their  consciences,  detain   married   Indian 
men  in  their  houses,  who  have  their  wives  in  other  places  in 
said  provinces,  and  who  have  gone   to  said  city  to  work  or 
dig,  but  who  are  detained  when  the  work  is  done,  and  obliged 
to  remain  in  their  employers'  houses,  serving  them  :  the  Holy 
Synod  approving,  we  exhort,   admonish,  and   command  all 
persons  in  said  provinces,  of  whatever  state,  quality,  or  condi- 
tion they  may  be,  under  penalty  of  greater  excommunication 
and  ten  ducats  of  Castile,  that  they  must,  under  no  pretext 
whatever,  detain  said  married  Indian  men  or  oblige  them, 
after  the  work  or  matter  for  which  they  went  to  the  said  city 
of  St.  Augustine,  in  Florida,  or  other  places,  to  remain  in 
their  houses  or  require  them    to  serve    them,    nor   consent 
thereto,  but  let  them  go  freely  to  live  in  married   life  with 
their  wives;  and  we  command  priests  in  charge  of  missions 
that  on  their  side,  as  persons  on  whom  this  same  obligation  is 
incumbent,  as  missionaries,  that  they  shall  use  all  necessary 
diliirence  for  the  enforcement  of  this  Constitution.     And  we 
beseech  and  charge  the  Governors,  judges,  and  justices  of  his 
Majesty,  that  as  by  reason  of  their  office  they  have  this  same 
obligation,  that  they  shall  not  consent  or  permit  said  Indi"jins 

*  Cb.  1  and  3  de  coniug  laepros. 


6 

to  be  detained  in  said  city  and  other  parts,  but  shall,  with  all 
the  rigor  of  law,  compel  seculars  to  leave  them  at  liberty  to 
go  and  live  with  their  wives ;  and  that  they  fulfil  what  Holy 
Church  commands  in  this  matter,  and  what  his  Majesty  has 
enjoined  in  many  and  repeated  orders. 

coNSTmrTioN  rv. 

The  Parish  Priest  and  Vicar  of  the  city  of  St.  Augustine,  Florida, 
is  to  compel  Indians  married  in  other  parts  to  go  and  live 
with  their  wives.* 

Whereas,  we  are  informed  that  in  the  city  of  St.  Augus- 
tine, Florida,  many  Indians  reside  who  have  married  else- 
where, and  act  as  hunters,  carpenters,  and  the  like,  and  on 
this  account  do  not  live  with  their  wives,  nor  give  them  the 
necessary  support ;  and  that  they  may  fulfil  their  obligations 
as  Christians,  we  command  the  beneficed  parish  priest  of  that 
city  to  compel,  with  all  the  rigors  of  the  law,  the  said  mar- 
ried Indians  to  go  and  live  with  their  wives,  and,  if  neces- 
sary therefor,  to  implore  the  aid  of  the  royal  authorities  ; 
and,  on  our  part,  we  ask  and  entreat  all  his  Majesty's  royal 
justices  to  do  this  service  to  God  our  Lord,  that  these  In- 
dians may  fulfil  their  obligations,  and  sins  and  other  mis- 
chiefs resulting  from  their  not  living  together  as  man  and 
wife  may  be  prevented. 

CONSTITDTION    V. 

That  persons  having  Indians  on  their  estates,  even  as  hired  labor- 
ers, must  permit  them  to  go  and  hear  Mass,  and  not  to  allow 
them  to  work  on  holidays. 

The  wretched  Indians,  for  being  so.  are  none  the  less 
Christians,  and  so  ought  to  observe  the  holidays :  and 
whereas,  in  the  said  city  of  St.  Augustine,  in  Florida,  and 
other  places  therein,  those  who  have  Indians  on  their  farms 
do  not  allow  them  to  go  and  hear  Mass  on  holidays  of  obliga- 
tion for  them,  but  make  them  work  on  such  days,  we  ordain 

*  Cap.  Literas  de  recit.  spoliat. 


that  no  person,  of  wliat  state,  cpiality,  or  condition  soever, 
under  pain  of  major  excommunication,  shall  make  said  In- 
dian? work  on  days  of  obligation  for  them,  nor  prevent  them 
going  to  hear  Mass  ;  and,  on  the  other  hand,  we  exhort,  warn, 
and  command  that  those  ha\ang  such  Indians  in  their  employ 
shall,  as  Catholic  Christians,  send  them  to  the  Convent  of 
St.  Francis,  in  said  city,  to  hear  Mass,  so  that  they  may  be 
instructed  in  Cliristian  doctrine  ;  and  that  they  do  the  same 
with  the  Indian  children  and  heathen  who  are  in  their  em- 
ploy, in  order  that  the  Father,  minister  of  doctrine  in  said 
convent,  instruct  and  teach  them  said  doctrine  and  take  care 
of  them ;  by  so  doing,  they  will  fulfil  their  obligation  and 
render  a  great  service  to  God  our  Lord,  and  will  exercise  one 
of  the  works  of  mercy  so  pleasing  to  Him.  And,  that 
Spaniards  as  well  as  Indians  may  know  the  days  on  which 
Indians  have  the  obligation  to  hear  Mass  and  observe,  we 
give  the  table  of  their  holidays,  which  are  the  following  : 

All  the  Sundays  of  the  year. 

The  feasts  of  Christmas,  Easter,  Pentecost. 

The  day  of  Epiphany. 

The  day  of  the  Circumcision  of  the  Lord. 

The  day  of  the  Ascension  of  the  Lord. 

The  day  of  Corpus  Christi. 

The  day  of  the  Purification  of  our  Lady. 

The  day  of  the  Annunciation  of  our  Lady. 

The  day  of  the  Assumption  of  our  Lady. 

The  day  of  the  Nativity  of  our  Lady. 

The  day  of  the  Apostles  St.  Peter  and  St.  Paul. 

The  day  of  All  Saints. 

All  which  days  Indians  are  under  obligation  to  keep  them, 
and  hear  Mass,  and  from  other  days  they  are  exempted  by 
Apostolic  Bulls  ;  but  if  they  choose  to  keep  others  which  are 
of  obligation  for  Spaniards,  this  Holy  Synod  approving,  we 
command  that  no  obstacle  be  raised  thereto,  and  that  they 
shall  not  be  obliged,  by  Spaniards,  or  by  religious,  or  by  any 
person,  to  work  thereon,  under  the  pretext  that  they  are  not 


8 

holidays  of  obligation  for  said  Indians ;  and  if  said  Indians 
attempt  to  work  for  anv  just  reason  on  days  of  obligation  for 
them,  they  may  represent  the  case  to  our  Vicar  and  Ecclesias- 
tical Judge,  in  order  that,  on  examination,  he  may  decide 
therein  and  declare  what  is  most  becoming,  and  without  his 
declaration  let  no  Indian  work. 

And  that,  moreover,  the  said  Indians  may  know  on  what 
days  they  are  obliged  to  fast,  we  give  the  following  table  : 

Fridays  in  Lent. 

Holy  Saturday. 

The  Yigil  of  the  Holy  Feast  of  Christmas. 

CONSTITUTION    VI, 

The  priests  in  charge  of  missions  and  religious  confessors  must 
have  the  approbation  of  the  ordinary,  in  order  to  hear  con- 
fessions and  administer  the  Sacraments.* 

The  Holy  Council  of  Trent  commands  that  the  holy  sac- 
rament of  penance  shall  not  be  administered  withont  examin- 
ation and  approbation  by  the  ordinary,  and  that  otherwise 
all  confessions  made  are  null;  and  his  Majesty,  by  different 
edicts,  has  commanded  that,  without  said  approbation  and 
license,  religious  in  charge  of  Indian  missions  cannot  confess 
or  administer  the  sacrament.  And  in  order  that  the  decisions 
of  the  Holy  Council  and  decrees  of  his  Majesty  may  be  kept 
and  observed  in  the  said  provinces  of  Florida,  and  for  the 
greater  security  and  validity  of  the  Holy  Sacraments,  we  com- 
mand and  establish,  the  Holy  Synod  approving,  that  no  re- 
ligious preach  the  word  of  the  Holy  Gospel,  nor  administer 
the  holy  Sacrament  of  penance,  even  thougli  he  be  in  charge 
of  a  mission,  without  having  our  approbation  and  license,  or 
that  of  our  predecessors  or  successors,  under  pain  of  suspen- 
sion from  office  and  others,  at  our  discretion.  And  that  no 
priest  in  charge  of  a  mission  administer  said  holy  Sacrament, 
nor  the  others,  without  our  permission,  under  the  penalty  of 


*Trid.  ses.  23,  de  Reformat,  c.  15.    Cedulas  of  June  22,  1624,  and  August  11, 
1637. 


9 

nullity  in  thoir  acts  ;  and  tliat  the  possession  of  our  license 
may  appear  to  onr  Vicar  and  Ecclesiastical  Judge  in  said 
provinces;  and  that  said  religious,  whether  confessors  or 
preachers  and  directors  of  missions,  may  not  be  prevented 
from  acting  under  them,  they  must  exhihit  the  faculties  to 
him  ;  and  in  case  they  do  not,  he  is  to  report,  that  we  may 
provide  a  suitable  remedy,  reserving,  as  we  hereby  reserve, 
their  right,  in  case  they  have  any  privilege  from  the  Apostolic 
See,  to  administer  said  sacrament  and  direct  missions  without 
our  license  and  approbation,  they  may  exhibit  them  to  us, 
with  the  orders  they  have  received  from  his  Majesty  in  re- 
gard thereto,  which  we  are  ready  to  observe  and  fulfil :  and, 
moreover,  if  they  have  any  privilege  to  dispense  Indians, 
within  prohibited  degrees,  to  permit  them  to  contract  matri- 
mony, they  must  exhibit  it  to  us,  for  the  security  and  validity 
of  said  marriages. 

CONSTITUTION    VH. 

Indian  missionaries  in  the  provinces  of  Florida  must  not  leave 
their  missions  for  a  longer  period  than  the  holy  Council  of 
Trent  permits.* 

The  religious  in  charge  of  missions  being  parish  priests 
and  ministers,  should  observe  the  residence  in  their  missions 
which  the  holy  Council  of  Trent  ordains ;  and  in  their  qual- 
ity as  missionaries  they  are  subject  to  the  ordinary's  jurisdic- 
tion according  to  law  and  his  Majesty's  decree :  Wherefore 
we  command  that  no  priest  in  charge  of  a  mission  in  the 
provinces  of  Florida  absent  himself  from  iiis  mission  for 
more  than  two  months,  which  said  holy  Council  of  Trent 
lixes,  without  our  permission  or  that  of  the  Reverend  Father 
Provincial,  whom  we  implore  and  entreat  to  give  all  his  care 
to  make  said  ministers  reside  in  their  missions,  as  we  hope 
from  his  holy  zeal  and  his  attachment  to  religion  ;  and  that 
there  always  remain  in  the  mission  a  priest  approved  by  us 
oi"  by  our  predecessors  or  successors. 


*Ses6.  23,  De  reformat,  c.  1. 


10 


CONSTITUTION    Tin, 

The  priests  in  charge  of  Indian  missions  in  Florida  must  teach 
the  Indians  Christian  doctrine.* 

One  of  the  obligations  of  evangelical  ministers  is  to  teach 
the  Christian  doctrine  to  their  parishioners,  and  preach  the 
word  of  the  holy  Gospel  to  them  ;  and  the  priests  having 
charge  of  Indians  are  especially  nnder  this  obligation,  be- 
cause their  capacity  is  less  :  Wherefore  we  command  priests 
having  charsre  of  Indians  to  teach  them  the  Christian  doc- 
trine  on  Sundays  and  holidays  of  obligation  throughout  the 
year,  and  on  Sundays  in  Advent  and  Lent  to  explain  the  holy 
Gospel  to  them,  as  becomes  zealous  ministers  desirous  of 
serving  God  ;  for  we  are  greatly  consoled  and  thankful  for 
the  apostohcal  zeal  with  which  they  administer  them.  And 
let  them  teach  it  to  the  boys  every  day,  as  they  now  do  ;  and 
we  beseech  and  charge  them  that  they  teach  it  in  Spanish 
where  they  can,  as  his  Majesty  has  commanded  in  a  special 
edict,  on  account  of  the  many  benetits  resulting  from  so  doing. 

CONSTITUTION    IX. 

That  Communion  is  to  be  given  to  Indians  knowing  the  Christian 

doctrine.! 

Inasmuch  as  the  Indians  are  Catholic  Christians,  the  annual 
communion  should  be  given  to  them  ;  in  consideration 
whereof  we  exhort  and  command  priests  in  charge  of  their 
missions  that,  when  they  are  intelligent  and  know  what  they 
receive,  and  know  the  Christian  doctrine,  according  to  their 
greater  or  less  capacity,  holy  Communion  is  to  be  given  to 
them  at  Easter  (Pascua  Florida),  and  at  other  times  as  may 
be  deemed  proper,  that  they  may  not  be  deprived  of  the 
many  spiritual  benetits  as  are  obtained  by  holy  Communion  ; 
and  the  sacrament  of  Extreme  Unction  is  to  be  administered 
to  the  dying. 

*  Cedula  of  March  2,  1634. 

tConc.  Later.,  c.  21  ;   Trid.  sess.  13,  cau.  9  ;   Limens,  lib.  1,  tit.  5,  c.  3  ;    Syn. 
de  la  Paz,  lib.  1,  tit.  5,  cap.  2. 


11 


CONSTirrTION    X. 

That  the  Indians  are  to  be  put  under  masters  every  year. 

In  order  tliat  it  inaj  be  ascertained  whether  the  Indians 
comply  with  the  annual  obligation  of  confession  and  com- 
munion, we  command  priests  having  charge  of  them  to  take 
a  census  of  them  during  the  Lenten  season ;  and  after  Low 
Sunday  to  collect  the  certificates  given  them,  and  those  who 
have  not  complied  are  to  be  obliged  and  compelled  to  do  so ; 
and  they  are  to  send  us  a  report  of  having  executed  and 
fullilled  this,  as  soon  as  a  ship  sails. 

CONSTITUTION    XI. 

That  the  books  herein  prescribed  are  to  be  kept  at  the  Indian 

missions. 

That  the  sacraments  of  baptism  and  matrimony  be  duly 
administered,  and  record  made  of  those  who  die,  we  com- 
mand priests  having  charge  of  Indian  missions  to  observe 
the  tenor  of  Constitution  YL,  in  the  title,  De  officio  Yicarii 
sen  Rectoris. 

CONSTITUTION    Xn. 

The  ministers  of  the  Indians  are  to  administer  the  sacraments  in 
the  form  herein  contained.* 

We  command  priests  having  charge  of  Indians  to  observe, 
in  the  administration  of  the  holy  sacraments,  the  ritual  of 
Paul  v.,  and  always  reading  therein  the  form  of  the  sacra- 
ments and  that  of  baptism  and  matrimony ;  never  adminis- 
ter them  in  their  houses,  but  in  the  church,  unless  there  be 
necessity  or  sickness.  And  where  any  are  baptized  at  home 
from  necessity,  they  are  to  be  taken  to  church  within  a  week 
to  receive  the  holy  oils.  Where  any  have  been  baptized,  and 
there  is  any  probable  doubt  whether  all  the  words  of  the 
form  were  said  or  not,  let  them  be  baptized  suh  conditione. 
Those  who  haye  not   been  baptized  must  be  baptized  within 

*  Cone.  Prsv.,  fol.  25  B. 


12  ' 

two  weeks.  None  are  to  act  as  sponsors  whoMo  not  know 
the  Christian  doctrine  and  have  not  been  baptized :  and  to 
avoid  the  frequent  impediment  of  spiritual  relationship  be- 
tween Indians,  let  them  endeavor  to  have  some  old  men  of 
good  life  and  manners  to  act  for  all,  and  stand  also  for  them 
in  the  sacrament  of  confirmation.  Most  special  care  is  to  be 
taken  to  administer  the  holy  sacrament  of  penance  to  the 
dying,  lest  by  neglect  the  salvation  of  a  soul  be  imperilled  ; 
and  let  them  administer  it  to  the  well,  whenever  they  ask  it 
with  their  accustomed  religious  and  apostolical  charity. 

CONSTITUTION    XHI. 

Religious  having  charge  of  Indian  missions  are  not  to  administer 
the  sacraments  to  any  who  are  not  Indians,  except  in  cases 
herein  provided.* 

As  the  priests  in  charge  of  the  Indian  missions  in  Florida 
are  appointed  for  Indians  only,  we  command  them  not  to 
administer  the  holy  sacraments  as  parish  priests  to  Spaniards, 
mulattoes,  or  negroes,  especially  the  sacraments  of  baptism 
and  matrimony ;  and  we  permit  only  those  to  hear  their  con- 
fessions who  have  had  our  permission  or  that  of  our  prede- 
cessors and  successors;  .and,  in  particular,  to  enable  them  to 
fulfil  the  annual  precept  of  confession  and  communion,  when 
they  happen  to  be  at  the  mission  m  time  of  Lent,  and  Ex- 
treme Unction  in  case  of  necessity ;  and  that  they  can,  under 
no  pretext,  take  part  in  the  holy  sacrament  of  Matrimony, 
nor  give  nuptial  benediction  to  those  who  contract  it,  being 
Spaniards,  negroes,  or  mulattoes,  unless  with  the  license  of 
the  beneficed  parish  priest  of  St.  Augustine,  Florida,  and 
paying  him  his  fees,  and  reporting  the  facts,  that  he  may 
enter  them  in  the  Registry  of  Marriages ;  and  those  who 
have  fulfilled  the  annual  precept  of  confession  and  com- 
munion, ii)  order  that  this  may  appear,  and  they  escape  ex- 
communication, as  provided  under  the  penalty  which  the  holy 

*  Sin.  de  la  Paz,  lib.  1,  tit.  5.     Cap.  15  et  lib.  4,  tit.  de  sponsalibus,  cap.  2.      • 


13 

Council  of  Trent  imposes  on  those  who  marry  persons  be- 
longing; to  another  parish. 

CONSTITUTION    XIV. 

That  priests  in  charge  of  Indian  missions  aie  not  to  appoint 
ensigns  for  the  Indian  festivals,  nor  collect  fees  or  debts  due 
in  churches  and  cemeteries.* 

By  a  decree  of  his  IMajesty,  it  is  enjoined  on  us  not  to  con- 
sent that  ensigns  should  be  appointed  in  the  festivals  cele- 
brated by  the  Indians,  to  carry  the  standard  in  the  proces- 
sions, and  make  a  contribution  to  the  parish  priests  of  wine, 
meat,  and  other  fruit ;  and  that  we  should  not  consent  that 
on  holidays,  when  Indians  go  to  Mass,  any  person  should  go 
to  ascertain  whether  they  owe  them  anything,  and  collect  it, 
on  any  ground  or  in  any  manner  whatever ;  and,  obeying  the 
royal  orders,  we  exhort  and  recpiire  the  said  priests  having 
charge  of  missions  not,  under  any  pretext,  to  consent  to  the 
election  of  such  ensigns  in  the  Confraternities  of  Indians,  nor 
that  any  one  go  to  said  churches  to  ascertain  whether  any 
Indian  is  indebted  to  them,  nor  to  collect  from  them  what 
they  have  furnished  in  money,  merchandise,  or  otherwise, 
nor  permit  them  to  be  annoyed,  vexed,  or  arrested  on  this 
ground  ;  but  that  they  shall  be  allowed  to  go  freely  to  hear 
Mass,  and  learn  the  Christian  doctrine,  and  perform  other 
pious  works.  And  in  obedience  to  another  royal  decree  of 
May  21,  1678,  wherein  his  Majesty,  with  his  Catholic  piety, 
enjoins  on  us  that  we  should,  on  our  part,  watch  with  all  at- 
tention and  care  over  the  relief  and  good  treatment  of  the 
Indians,  we  raost  affectionately  warn  the  said  priests  in  charge 
of  Indian  missions  to  treat  the  Indians  well  and  charitably, 
and  not  consent  that  any  one,  ecclesiastic  or  secular,  ill-treat 
them  in  word  or  deed,  using  in  all  things  the  exertion  due  a 
matter  which  so  concerns  the  service  of  God  and  his  Majesty, 
as  we  here  charge  them  in  conscience  to  do. 

*  Cedula  issued  in  Madrid,  June  1,  1672  ;  Cedula  issued  iu  Madrid,  August  2, 
1678. 


GAYLAMOUNT 

PAMPHLET  BINDER 

Manu/acluttd  ku 

GAYLORD  BROS.  Inc. 

Syracuse,  N.  Y. 

Stockton,  Calif. 


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